Dengue fever: Causes,Symptoms and Prevention

Dengue is an endemic in Pakistan which starts in post monsoon period. According to a research journal of Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi more than 30,000 cases of dengue have been reported in Pakistan since it first reported in 1985.

What is Dengue and how does it spread?

Dengue is a viral infection caused by the bite of a specific kind of mosquito. It’s a severe flu like illness transmits to a human body when it is bitten by an infected female mosquito “Aedes Aegypti”. There are four distinct types refer as serotypes of the dengue virus. This virus vary mild to severe it’s most severe forms are dengue shock syndrome and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). It occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. This fever is also known as breakbone fever.

What are the Symptoms of Dengue Fever?

Sudden-onset fever

Headache

Mouth and nose bleeding

Muscle and joint pains

Vomiting

Rash

Diarrhea

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)/ Dengue Shock Syndrome

Bleeding from your mouth/gums

Nosebleeds

Clammy skin

Considerably damaged lymph and blood vessels

Internal bleeding, which can result in black vomit and feces (stools)

Lower number of platelets in blood – these are the cells that help clot your blood

Sensitive stomach

Small blood spots under your skin

Weak pulse.

Dengue shock syndrome

Intense stomach pain

Disorientation

Sudden hypo-tension (fast drop in blood pressure)

Heavy bleeding

Regular vomiting

Blood vessels leaking fluid

What are the treatment/cure options for this virus?

Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment/cure for this fever as it is a virus but there are some prevention one can do to avoid severity.

What are the prevention for dengue fever?

The best thing you can do to prevent dengue fever is to get yourself protected from being bitten by the mosquitoes.

Wear fully covered dresses, do not let your skin exposed.

Cover the widows of your home by netting.

Avoid going outside at dawn, dusk and early evening.

These types of mosquitoes breed in clean and stagnant water. It is important not to use the uncovered water buckets or water cans.